Device and method for sterilizing and storage of laboratory consumables

ABSTRACT

A method of sterilizing and storing laboratory consumables comprises slidably receiving a carrier holding a plurality of laboratory consumables into each of one or more of a plurality of storage compartments within an interior chamber defined in a housing, exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables to ultraviolet (UV) light from a UV lamp positioned above each respective storage compartment and from a UV lamp positioned below each respective storage compartment, determining from which of the plurality of storage compartments a carrier should be removed based on for which carrier a longest period of time has elapsed since going through a predefined sterilization procedure, and indicating to a user into which of the plurality of storage compartments a carrier should be placed or indicating to a user from which of the plurality of storage compartments a carrier should be removed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/863,030, filed Jan. 5, 2018, and alsoclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/444,863,filed Jan. 11, 2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present technology relates to laboratory consumables, and moreparticularly to a device and method for sterilizing and storinglaboratory consumables.

BACKGROUND

Every year around 4,000,000 pounds of plastic pipette tips, after asingle use, are disposed of in landfills globally, leading tosignificant environmental pollution and costs. A typical laboratoryconsumes several thousand pipette tips daily for samples and assayprocedures. Due to the lack of options for cleaning plastic consumables,the labs discard pipette tips after each use. Such high consumption ofplastic tips adds $25,000-$1.5M to the annual operation cost to each ofthe approximately 14,000 research laboratories in the US.

Devices that are capable of efficient pipette tip cleaning andsterilization could save businesses substantial amounts of money intheir scientific operations and drastically reduce the amount of wasteproduced in the course of operations. Devices and methods for cleaningand drying pipette tips have been developed by the applicant of thepresent invention. Such devices and methods are disclosed in thefollowing co-owned patent and patent applications, which areincorporated by reference in their entireties: U.S. Pat. No. 9,421,289,issued Aug. 23, 2016; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/189,750, filedJun. 22, 2016; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/796,712, filed Jul.10, 2015; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/042,578, filed Feb. 12,2016; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/575,374, filed Dec. 18,2014. These devices and methods for cleaning and drying pipette tipsproduce large quantities of cleaned pipette tips which may be re-usedinstead of discarded. However, as the original protective packaging forthe pipette tips would no longer be available, there is a need for asolution to store the cleaned pipette tips in a manner that helpsprevent contamination until the pipette tips are to be used again.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one embodiment of the invention, a method of sterilizing and storinglaboratory consumables comprises slidably receiving a carrier holding aplurality of laboratory consumables into each of one or more of aplurality of storage compartments within an interior chamber defined ina housing, exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables toultraviolet (UV) light from a UV lamp positioned above each respectivestorage compartment and from a UV lamp positioned below each respectivestorage compartment, determining from which of the plurality of storagecompartments a carrier should be removed based on for which carrier alongest period of time has elapsed since going through a predefinedsterilization procedure, and indicating to a user into which of theplurality of storage compartments a carrier should be placed orindicating to a user from which of the plurality of storage compartmentsa carrier should be removed.

The method may further comprise detecting a presence of a carrier in arespective storage compartment and detecting whether a door affixed tothe housing is open or closed. The plurality of laboratory consumablesmay be exposed to UV light after one or more carriers have been detectedto have been inserted into respective storage compartments and the doorhas been detected to be closed.

The plurality of laboratory consumables may be exposed to UV light fromthe UV lamps positioned above and below the respective storagecompartments in which the presence of a carrier has been detected.

The plurality of laboratory consumables may be exposed to UV light for apredetermined amount of time.

The method may further comprise deactivating the UV lamps if the doorhas been detected to be opened and reactivating the UV lamps for aremaining portion of the predetermined period of time when the door hasbeen detected to be closed.

The method may further comprise determining if a carrier has beenremoved prior to completion of a predefined sterilization procedure andproviding a notification to a user.

The method may further comprise drawing air into the housing through anair intake defined in one wall of the housing, drawing or pushing airthrough the interior chamber, and pushing air out of the housing throughan air outflow defined in an opposing wall of the housing.

The method may further comprise providing heat to the interior chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe disclosure, will be better understood when read in conjunction withthe appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure,there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presentlypreferred. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is notlimited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a laboratory consumablesterilizing and storage device, in accordance with embodiments of theinvention.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate perspective views of tip rack carriers which may beused in conjunction with the laboratory consumable sterilizing andstorage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of how a tip rack carrierinterfaces with a corresponding storage compartment of the laboratoryconsumable sterilizing and storage device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate top perspective view of a storage compartmentof the laboratory consumable sterilizing and storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a storage compartment ofthe laboratory consumable sterilizing and storage device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate top perspective views of the laboratoryconsumable sterilizing and storage device of FIG. 1 with the top panelremoved.

FIG. 11 illustrates a bottom perspective view of the laboratoryconsumable sterilizing and storage device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 illustrates a front view of the laboratory consumablesterilizing and storage device of FIG. 1 with the door open.

FIG. 13 illustrates a control system of a laboratory consumablesterilizing and storage device, in accordance with embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention comprise devices and methods for storinglaboratory consumables, including but not limited to pipette tips.Embodiments of the invention may be used, for example, to storelaboratory consumables that were previously used and then cleaned (suchas via the devices and methods described in the Background) in a mannerthat helps prevent contamination until the laboratory consumables are tobe used again. Embodiments of the invention may also optionally be usedto dry and/or sanitize laboratory consumables. While the devices andmethods disclosed herein may be used with any suitable laboratoryconsumable, embodiments of the invention will be described hereinrelated to use with pipette tips for simplicity.

A laboratory consumable storage device 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-13in accordance with embodiments of the invention. The laboratoryconsumable storage device 10 comprises a main body 12 and a door 14together forming an interior space or chamber. The chamber is dividedinto one or more storage compartments, each storage compartment forreceiving a carrier holding a plurality of laboratory consumables to besterilized, dried, and/or stored. The number of compartments, andtherefore the number of carriers the device may hold at one time, mayvary depending on many factors, such as the user's requirements, thespace availability at the user's facility, the size of the carriers(which is dependent on the size and quantity of the laboratoryconsumables to be stored in each carrier), etc. The illustrated device10 has nine compartments in a 3×3 arrangement. The devices may or maynot be stackable. If the devices are stackable, it may be necessary toemploy a spacer that maintains sufficient space between the stackeddevices for adequate air flow.

It is typically desirable for the door, when closed, to adequately sealthe chamber such that air is not sucked in around the door when optionalventilation fans (described below) are operated. In the illustratedembodiment, the door 14 has a magnetic gasket 16 around the perimeter ofits internal side to provide such a desired seal. A sensor may be usedto detect if the door is open, such that the device will not operate(e.g., the UV lamps will not be turned on) if the door is open. Further,an alarm or other indicator may be actuated if the door is left open forlonger than a predetermined threshold time. An optional door lockingmechanism (not illustrated), which may be controlled automatically, maybe present.

A laboratory consumable storage device of embodiments of the inventionwill typically have a user interface 18, which may comprise one or moreuser input devices (e.g., buttons, switches, knobs, keypad, bar codereader, magnetic scanner, RFID scanner, etc.) and one or more useroutput devices (e.g., lights, LED or LCD displays, sound generators(such as buzzers or beepers), etc.). Any suitable number, type,arrangement, and location of user input and output devices may be used.

The laboratory consumable storage device 10 as illustrated has ninecompartments for receiving and holding carriers holding laboratoryconsumables. FIG. 1 shows the device with carriers 30 in thecompartments, while FIG. 12 shows the device with no carriers in thecompartments. A faceplate 20 defines the openings 22 of the compartmentsthrough which the carriers are inserted. Indicia may be present (such ason the faceplate 20) to indicate reference numbers for each storagecompartment. A light or other similar indicator may be adjacent eachstorage compartment, such as to provide a real-time indication to a useras to which storage compartment to insert a carrier into or remove acarrier from.

In the illustrated embodiment, the internal structure of thecompartments is formed by U-shaped structures 40 that are arranged andmounted within the chamber of the device in the desired number andconfiguration. The U-shaped structures 40 are illustrated removed fromthe device for clarity in FIGS. 5-8. Such U-shaped structures are oneexemplary way to form the storage compartments, however any suitablestructure or mechanism may be used.

In the illustrated embodiment, the carriers 30 are manually slid intoand out of the compartments by users as needed. In alternativeembodiments of the invention (not illustrated), other mechanisms may beused for guiding or propelling the carriers into and out of thecompartments. As an example, telescoping or extending guides or drawersmay extend out of the compartments for loading/unloading of the carriersand retract into the compartments for storage. Such extension andretraction may be manual or powered. In the illustrated embodiment, thecarriers 30 rest on the shelves 42 of the compartments when insertedinto the compartments. In alternative embodiments of the invention (notillustrated), other mechanisms may be used for supporting or hanging thecarriers within the compartments (for example, opposing horizontalsupport guides).

As seen in FIGS. 2-4, the carrier 30 comprises a frame having elongatedsides with large openings, closed ends with handles, an open bottom, anda tip rack adapter plate 32 on top. The tip rack adapter plate 32 has aplurality of openings (five openings are illustrated, but the tip rackadapter plate may have more or fewer openings as needed). A tip rack 34may be placed on the tip rack adapter plate 32 at each of the openings,such that the tip rack sits on the edges of the respective opening andthe pipette tips in the tip rack protrude down through the respectiveopening. FIG. 2 shows a carrier with no tip racks in place and FIG. 3shows a carrier with tip racks 34 in place at all five of the openings.The tip rack adapter 32 may be able to hold a variety of different tipracks 34 (the specific tip rack used will depend on the type and numberof pipette tips to be stored). As seen in FIG. 4, the tip racks 34 eachhold a plurality of pipette tips 36 (or other type of laboratoryconsumable). The number of pipette tips held by each tip rack may vary.The one or more tip racks 34 may hold 24, 48, 96, 384, or 1536 pipettetips, by way of example, although the one or more tip racks 34 may holdother numbers of pipette tips. The laboratory consumable storage device10 may be utilized with pipette tips with volumes of 10 μL-5 mL, such as10 μL, 50 μL, 1 mL, or 5 mL pipettes, by way of example, withcorresponding lengths between 30 mm-120 mm, although the laboratoryconsumable storage device 10 may be utilized with pipette tips withother sizes and configurations. In the illustrated embodiment, each tiprack 34 holds 96 pipette tips 36. When the pipette tips 36 are in placein the tip racks 34 and the tip racks are in place on the tip rackadapter plate 32, the pipette tips 36 hang down into the interior of thecarrier as seen in FIG. 4. The elongated sides of the carrier 30 havelarge openings which, along with the open bottom, enable UV light andair flow (described below) to readily reach the pipette tips. In theillustrated embodiment, both ends of the carrier 30 have top edges thatcurve out and down to form handles. Handles on both ends of the carriermay be desirable because the carrier typically is insertable into thecompartments with either end first. Any other suitable type of handlemechanism may be used, on either or both ends of the carrier.Alternatively, the carrier may have no handles.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, various views of a U-shaped structure 40 areillustrated, with the structure removed from the tip storage device 10for clarity. Such U-shaped structures are one exemplary way to form thestorage compartments in the laboratory consumable storage devices ofembodiments of the invention, but any other suitable structure ormechanism may be used. FIG. 5 illustrates the U-shaped structure with apartially inserted carrier, and FIG. 6 illustrates the U-shapedstructure with no carrier. The U-shaped structure 40 comprises opposingelongated walls 48 and a bottom chamber 50 for housing one or more UVlightbulbs 54 (also termed “lamps”). The bottom chamber 50 houses a UVlightbulb 54 for exposing the pipette tips to UV light in order tosanitize the pipette tips (or maintain sanitization of pipette tips thathave already been sanitized). The bottom and top walls of the bottomchamber 50 each have elongated holes 52, 44 (respectively) that coincidewith the UV lightbulb 54. Such elongated holes 52, 44 enable UV lightemitted by the UV lightbulb 54 to project upward onto the pipette tipsheld in the respective U-shaped structure and downward onto the pipettetips held in the U-shaped structure below. If a different number of UVlightbulbs and/or differently shaped UV lightbulbs are used, as may bethe case, then the number and shape of the holes in the bottom and topwalls of the UV chamber may vary accordingly. The top wall 42 of thebottom chamber 50 (which forms a shelf on which a carrier sits) may behinged (as illustrated in FIG. 5B) to enable easy access to the UVlightbulb 54 for maintenance and replacement. In an alternativeembodiment (not illustrated), the top wall of the bottom chamber may becompletely separable, such as by lifting or sliding, and may be securedusing any suitable securing device or mechanism (e.g., screws or bolts).Any other suitable structure or mechanism for enabling access to the UVlightbulb 54 for maintenance and replacement may be used. As seen inFIG. 6, a plurality of holes 46 may be defined in the top wall 42 of thebottom chamber, on opposing sides of hole 44, to facilitate air flowthrough the device to help dry the pipette tips.

It may be desirable to determine which storage compartment contains atip rack carrier. As such, laboratory consumable storage devices ofembodiments of the invention may comprise one or more sensors capable ofdetecting the presence of a carrier in each storage compartment. As seenin FIGS. 6 and 12, the sensors 64 may be mounted on the back wall 66 ofeach of the nine storage compartments. Any suitable type, number, andlocation of proximity sensor may be used.

In addition to the UV lightbulbs in the bottom chamber 50 of theU-shaped structure, one or more additional UV lightbulbs may be mountedin other locations to ensure adequate exposure of UV light to thepipette tips. For example, the laboratory consumable storage device 10comprises three additional UV lightbulbs mounted in the top portion ofthe device, above the storage compartments (as seen in FIG. 9). These UVlightbulbs mounted in the top portion of the device help ensure that thetops of the pipette tips stored in the top storage compartments areexposed to UV light.

The UV lightbulb is an optional feature of the laboratory consumablestorage devices of embodiments of the invention. If such a UV lightbulbis omitted from the device, the U-shaped structure may not require andthus may not have a bottom chamber, but rather may have a simple bottomwall. Such a bottom wall would typically have a plurality of ventilationholes, similar to holes 46 but likely more numerous to ensure adequateventilation if elongated hole 44 is omitted. Alternatively, if such a UVlightbulb is omitted from the device, the same U-shaped structure may beused (for simplicity of manufacturing and cost reduction) but with theUV lightbulb and associated mounting/wiring hardware omitted.

Any suitable mechanism or structure may be used to mount the U-shapedstructure in the device. In the illustrated embodiment, the top edges ofthe opposing walls are bent over 90 degrees and have bolt holes forbolting the U-shaped structure to beams (not illustrated) or any othersuitable structure within the chamber of the device.

It may be desirable for laboratory consumable storage devices ofembodiments of the invention to have the capability to dry the storedpipette tips, if needed. As such, the laboratory consumable storagedevices of embodiments of the invention may include one or moreventilation fans that move air through (i.e., pull air into and push airout of) the storage device. Referring now to FIG. 9, the laboratoryconsumable storage device 10 comprises one or more (six are illustrated)ventilation fans 56 mounted in the top portion of the device, above thestorage compartments (as seen in FIG. 6) (although other mountinglocations may be used). Any suitable number, position, and capacity offans may be used (typically varying based on the size of the laboratoryconsumable storage device). In one specific embodiment, 6 volt DCventilation fans 56 are used. Such ventilation fans may be fixed orvariable speed, and may be powered by AC or DC voltage. Such ventilationfans may be wired to all operate at the same time, or to be separatelycontrolled for variable air flow through the device.

In alternative embodiments of the invention, one or more ventilationfans may be mounted at the bottom of the device (instead of or inaddition to the fans at the top). In other alternative embodiments ofthe invention, one or more ventilation fans may be mounted on one orboth sides, and/or on the back side of the device. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, the ventilation fans are arranged to pullair into the bottom of the device 10 and push air out of the top of thedevice. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the ventilationfans may be arranged to pull air into the top of the device and push airout of the bottom of the device.). In other alternative embodiments ofthe invention, the ventilation fans may be arranged to pull air into oneside of the device and out of an opposite side of the device, therebyproviding horizontal air flow through the device. Many otherarrangements of fan number and position and of air flow may be providedand are within the scope of this disclosure.

An air filter 58 (seen in FIG. 10) may be mounted above the fans tofilter the air leaving the device. Such a filter 58 may be enclosedwithin the main body 12 of the device and aligned with ventilation holes24 (seen in FIG. 1) in the main body to enable the air to leave thedevice. Another air filter 60 (seen in FIG. 11) may be mounted at thebottom of the device to filter air being drawn into the device. Such afilter 60 may be mounted within the bottom wall of the device such thatventilation holes are not needed (such a method of mounting may betermed “flush-mounted”). While outgoing air filter 58 is illustrated asbeing enclosed and incoming air filter 60 is illustrated as beingflush-mounted, either filter may be enclosed or flush-mounted. One orboth of the air filters may be omitted. However, the incoming air filter60 is typically more important to help prevent contamination of thestored pipette tips. One or both of the filters may be a HEPA filter orthe like.

The ventilation fan(s) is/are an optional feature of the laboratoryconsumable storage devices of embodiments of the invention. If such aventilation fan(s) is/are omitted from the device, the above-describedfilters and ventilation holes may or may not also be omitted.

In addition to the drying capability provided by the ventilation fans,additional drying capability may be provided by including one or moreheaters the laboratory consumable storage devices of embodiments of theinvention. Although not illustrated, the laboratory consumable storagedevice of embodiments of the invention may comprise one or more heatermounted in the rear portion of the device (although other mountinglocations may be used). Such heaters would typically, although notnecessarily, be mounted near the bottom of the device since hot airrises. Any suitable number, position, and capacity of heaters may beused (typically varying based on the size of the laboratory consumablestorage device). In one specific embodiment, 400 watt heating fanheaters are used. Such heaters may have a fixed or variable output, andmay be thermostatically controlled. Such heaters may be wired to alloperate at the same time, or to be separately controlled for variableheating of the interior of the device.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a control system of a laboratory consumablestorage device is illustrated in accordance with embodiments of theinvention. The laboratory consumable storage device 10 comprises acontroller 70. The controller 70 may comprise a microprocessor,dedicated or general purpose circuitry (such as an application-specificintegrated circuit or a field-programmable gate array), a suitablyprogrammed computing device, or any other suitable means for controllingthe operation of the storage device 10. The controller 70 may receiveinputs from one or more user inputs devices 72, such as buttons,switches, knobs, keypad, bar code reader, magnetic scanner, RFIDscanner, etc. The controller 70 may provide outputs to one or more useroutput devices, such as lights, LED or LCD displays, sound generators(such as buzzers or beepers), etc. The controller 70 may receive inputsfrom one or more sensors 76, such as proximity sensors that detect thepresence of a carrier in each storage compartment and/or a door sensorthat detects if the door is open. The controller 70 may receive inputsfrom one or more temperature sensors 78. The controller 70 may turn onand off one or more heaters 80, UV lights 82, and/or fans 84.

A method for storing and optionally disinfecting and/or drying pipettetips using the laboratory consumable storage device 10 will be describedwith reference to the figures. A user places either washed or newpipette tips 36 arranged in one or more tip racks 34 into a tip carrier30 and slides the tip carrier 30 into one of the nine (in theillustrated embodiment) storage compartments. The proximity sensor 64within that storage compartment will detect the present of the carrier.The user may then be prompted via the user interface 18 to confirm thata predefined sterilization procedure should be commenced. Such apredefined sterilization procedure would turn on the UV bulbs 54corresponding to that specific storage compartment (e.g., the UV bulbabove and the UV bulb below the specific storage compartment) for apredefined period of time. If the user does not answer or confirm withina predefined time after closing the door of the unit, then thesterilization procedure may automatically start for that storagecompartment. If present, such an auto-start feature may be enabled ordisabled by accessing the setting features on the user interface 18. Asthe sterilization and/or drying procedures are typically (but notnecessarily) activated individually for each storage compartment,sterilization procedures may be running in multiple storage compartmentsat the same time, and may be at different stages (having different startand stop times) at any given time. When a carrier is inserted into astorage compartment, the sterilization and/or drying procedure for thatstorage compartment may be executed independently of whatever proceduresare running in the other storage compartments.

Multiple different types of procedures may be available, such asdifferent duration sterilization procedures, a combined sterilizationand drying procedure that activates both the required UV bulbs 54 andone or more of the heating elements 62 and/or fans 56, or a drying onlyprocedure that activates only one or more of the heating elements 62and/or fans 56. Which procedure is to be used when a carrier is insertedmay be set systematically, such as via the setting feature on the userinterface, or may be selected individually via the user interface eachtime a carrier is inserted. A sterilization procedure may optionally becommenced in all of the storage compartments anytime the door is opened(such a precautionary sterilization procedure may have a shorterduration than the standard sterilization procedure).

The sterilization procedure will only execute (and therefore the UVbulbs will only be on) when the door 14 to the unit is fully closed. If,at any point the door is opened, the controller 70 will turn off all theUV bulbs to avoid any harm to the user. When the door is re-closed, thesterilization procedure (or procedures, if running in multiplecompartments) will typically resume and continue executing until thepredetermined procedure runtime is reached (optionally, additional timemay be added to each procedure that was paused). Such a pause andresumption may occur if the door is opened to insert a carrier or toremove a carrier (or both).

An indicator (or indicators) may be provided to the user of whichstorage compartment(s) the sterilization procedure has completed andtherefore from which storage compartment(s) the carrier and tips may beremoved for use. Such an indicator may be provided on the user interface18, or in any other suitable manner (as another example, indicatorlights (e.g., red and green) may be provided adjacent each storagecompartment to indicate whether the carrier within may be removed). Theindicator(s) may indicate all of the storage compartments in which thesterilization procedure has completed and therefore any of the indicatedcarriers can be removed. Alternatively, the indicator(s) may indicateonly the one storage compartment in which the sterilization procedurehas been completed for the longest time (thereby providing a first-in,first-out (FIFO) system). If a carrier is removed prior to thecompletion of its sterilization procedure (as detected by the proximitysensor), a warning will typically be provided to the user (via the userinterface, or any other suitable mechanism or method). The user may thenbe provided an option to re-insert the carrier and restart thesterilization procedure or to ignore (i.e., dismiss) the warning.

Some or all the activities, such as the insertion and removal ofcarriers, may be recorded and may be viewable on the user interfaceand/or downloadable to a separate computer/server or the like.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

That which is claimed:
 1. A method of sterilizing and storing laboratoryconsumables, the method comprising: slidably receiving a carrier holdinga plurality of laboratory consumables into each of one or more of aplurality of storage compartments within an interior chamber defined ina housing; exposing the plurality of laboratory consumables toultraviolet (UV) light from a UV lamp positioned above each respectivestorage compartment and from a UV lamp positioned below each respectivestorage compartment; determining from which of the plurality of storagecompartments a carrier should be removed based on for which carrier alongest period of time has elapsed since going through a predefinedsterilization procedure; and indicating to a user into which of theplurality of storage compartments a carrier should be placed orindicating to a user from which of the plurality of storage compartmentsa carrier should be removed.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: detecting a presence of a carrier in a respective storagecompartment; and detecting whether a door affixed to the housing is openor closed; wherein the plurality of laboratory consumables are exposedto UV light after one or more carriers have been detected to have beeninserted into respective storage compartments and the door has beendetected to be closed.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the pluralityof laboratory consumables are exposed to UV light from the UV lampspositioned above and below the respective storage compartments in whichthe presence of a carrier has been detected.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the plurality of laboratory consumables are exposed to UV lightfor a predetermined amount of time.
 5. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising: deactivating the UV lamps if the door has been detected tobe opened; and reactivating the UV lamps for a remaining portion of thepredetermined period of time when the door has been detected to beclosed.
 6. The method of claim 2, further comprising: determining if acarrier has been removed prior to completion of a predefinedsterilization procedure and providing a notification to a user.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: drawing air into the housingthrough an air intake defined in one wall of the housing; drawing orpushing air through the interior chamber; and pushing air out of thehousing through an air outflow defined in an opposing wall of thehousing.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing heat tothe interior chamber.